My first year in Shenzhen

A new academic year is beginning. During my first year in Shenzhen, I got to know the city a little and experienced a lot of changes.

During this time, I transformed from a school student into an international university student in China and came of age here. After exams, I flew to Moscow for my summer vacation and spent time at home with my family.

Now I am ready to begin my studies with renewed energy and embrace my new home, not as a guest, but as a resident. My second year in Shenzhen begins now. And of course, I look forward to meeting my new friends at the Z10 club. Eventful business programs and warm friendly meetings of the Global Youth Exchange Program helped me learn more about and feel the spirit of the Greater Bay Area.

Some cities are vast, busy, and noisy, while others are small and quiet. Shenzhen unexpectedly combines the hectic pace of a major metropolis with easy access to nature, where people can relax and spend time with family and loved ones, enjoying a slower, more peaceful rhythm as if they were outside the city.

In our country, young children read traditional folk tales, a genre that has inspired many great writers and poets such as Alexander Pushkin. In those stories, heroes often sail across three seas to a distant, faraway kingdom.

When I was at high school, I couldn’t take Chinese classes. But students who came after me could, and they already know much more about our large neighboring country. Today, even primary schools teach more about China — including the Chinese language, history, and culture.

After I finished school and passed the Unified State Exams (somewhat similar to China’s gaokao), I could choose which university to attend. I had decided long ago that I wanted to study economics and finance, and I had always hoped to study at Moscow State University — one of Russia's oldest and most prestigious institutions, known worldwide. I began preparing to apply to its Faculty of Economics.

I was particularly interested in the international aspects of how economies function and in trade cooperation between countries. In that context, I also considered studying abroad to better understand the people I might work with from other nations.

In my final year of high school, I became interested in study opportunities in Europe and Asia. That's how I discovered that the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), and Moscow State University (MSU) had established the China-Russia university of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University.

China is the largest economy in the world and a leading global center for science and technology. Studying in such a vast country and learning a language spoken by one and a half billion people is a unique and invaluable opportunity.

I am grateful to my parents for supporting not only my decision to study in China but also for helping to finance it. Together, we evaluated the budget and compared the expected expenses. While researching, we considered transportation costs for study and travel, as well as living expenses, food, and daily necessities.

Tuition is the main expense. However, thanks to scholarship programs, a significant portion of these costs can be offset by strong academic performance. There are also various grants available, including the Guangdong Government Outstanding International Student Award, which encourage students to excel academically, immerse themselves in Shenzhen’s and Guangdong’s culture and life, and contribute to social activities.

For those who wish to pursue advanced scientific study and research in China, there are a variety of support programs for young researchers. Shenzhen, for example, offers multi‑entry visas valid for five to 10 years to foreign professionals and helps their immediate family members obtain visas and residence permits. Among Chinese megacities, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen run especially large talent attraction programs. Together, these cities account for more than 20% of the country’s highly skilled specialists.

After discussing the opportunity with my family, I submitted an application to Shenzhen MSU‑BIT University (SMBU). As the Chinese proverb 一箭双雕 (yī jiàn shuāng diāo; kill two hawks with one arrow) suggests, this allowed me to achieve two goals at once: to study in a program affiliated with Moscow State University and to live and study in China.

After taking the entrance exams, I faced an anxious wait for the competitive selection results. I had submitted my application online through China’s centralized university admissions system and also took the exams remotely. The instructions were always clear and easy to follow. I handled the entire application process myself and did not use any commercial agencies. In my experience, there were no major obstacles to submitting documents, taking exams, or enrolling in a Chinese university from anywhere in the world — just determination, a computer, and an internet connection.

When I learned I had been accepted to study in Shenzhen, we were overjoyed but also aware that I would need to become more independent living far from home. I was still under 18 at the time, so I required a few additional documents for my visa. Upon arriving at the university, staff helped me immediately obtain a local phone number, set up WeChat, and open a bank account. That support made it easy to stay connected and quickly settle into life in the new city and country.

Having a campus on university grounds was an important factor in my choice. Many universities in the city are opening branches with new, convenient, and modern buildings and sports facilities, and some students choose to rent housing off campus. Right now, I find it more convenient to live on campus. We have a good cafeteria with tasty meals and a communal dormitory kitchen where we can cook, and of course we can always order food online from any cuisine in Shenzhen.

On my way to class, I walk past a picturesque pond with black swans. The campus is cozy and beautiful. Every student can pursue their favorite sport and stay in shape. I enjoy swimming in our pool. Come and experience university life with us.

My friends from Z10 have already visited me at my university in Longgang District, and I have learned about life at their institutions in southern China. Now we each know a little more and can share with people back home the genuine, friendly study experience in Shenzhen.

It's interesting to see how differently students spend their vacations: some go home, while older students travel independently. Shenzhen is well connected regionally, nationally, and internationally — with highways, high-speed trains, an international airport, and a major seaport — so it’s easy to plan a trip to almost anywhere in the world.

There is so much to see in the Greater Bay Area. On New Year’s Eve, my classmates and I took a train and wandered through the streets of Hong Kong. Thanks to the Z10 Club, which organized an unforgettable trip, I was able to get to know the Fragrant Harbour (香港, Xiānggǎng) more deeply, visit museums, and see many iconic landmarks. I look forward to returning — this time on a business program — to learn more about the local business environment.

I’m also keen to visit the Bay Gate (Macao, 澳门, Àomén), not just as a historic site or a striking example of land reclamation, but to understand the complex inner workings of the vast gaming and tourism industry often called “the Las Vegas of the East.”

This summer, I spent time with my family in Moscow, traveled by train to Saint Petersburg to visit my grandparents and flew to Sakhalin Island. Each trip made me compare how things are organized there with how they are in Shenzhen. For example, when I traveled with my dog in Russia, we were personally met and greeted, whereas here you can only access the train platform with a ticket — much like at an airport.

I have many favorite places in the city where I walk with friends. Every time I enter a café, I fondly remember the club meeting where we learned to brew great coffee and chat in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s surprising how leaving home makes you long for familiar spots. After a year of studying in Shenzhen, though, I’m already eager to return to its waterfronts, parks, and amusement rides. This city has truly become my home, and I think many international students would agree.

Shenzhen is not only a city of modern infrastructure, green spaces, technology, and education, but also a cultural center. At our university, studying the arts is part of the required curriculum. Back home in Moscow, I went backstage and attended the Nutcracker ballet. In Shenzhen, I saw a performance by the Bolshoi Theatre. It was a great pleasure to see world-renowned stars and ensembles here. I also saw the famous mask theatre, with astonishing instant transformations. I would love to visit the grand Shenzhen Opera House.

With the Z10 Club, it feels as if we have a skipass that lets us move freely around the city. For example, a tour of Nanshan, a visit to the Innovation Museum, and an excursion to Tencent were organized especially for us.

During this period of study, we have become more mature and independent. We budget and plan our expenses, trying to manage our finances wisely. I am very interested in how major financial centers operate — how banks attract financing and how assets are traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. As an economics student, I am always curious about how businesses, factories, and logistics companies operate behind the scenes.

Students studying at universities in Shenzhen today not only gain knowledge and professional skills but also acquire a unique experience of city life, culture, and business practices, while expanding their networks.

Many are already planning to continue their studies in China, even pursuing academic degrees, which will help their future careers. Some will return to their home countries and continue doing business with large and local Chinese companies. Others will remain as expatriates, working here and sharing the knowledge they gained about Shenzhen and about their own countries. Therefore, I would like to learn more about real business in Shenzhen. Perhaps the Z10 Club could take these interests into account when organizing future events.